‘Lab 2’ is a pair of ultra luxe, futuristic earphones from S-Next, a boutique premium audio gear manufacturer based in Japan. Encased in a Steampunk styled 3D modeled casing made of Titanium, these earphones promise sound quality like never before. Housed inside the casing is a 15mm dynamic driver designed for the sole purpose of ‘accurate reproduction of audio’. The back of the driver is made of titanium too, which improves low frequency sound reproduction. The housing is designed to simulate a gap between the ear canal and the housing resulting in a natural sound field. Although metal like titanium display a very rough finish upon 3D Printing, S-Luxe has utilised a proprietary chemical treatment which increases the glossiness and according to the company results in the highest level of smoothness. Limited to just 200 units the Lab 2 earphones will be available from October 22 in Japan for 450,000 Yen ($ 4300), making them the most expensive 3D printed earphones in the world.
Chanel has added five new variants to the Flying Tourbillon series, all of which spell opulence and elegance like no other. Each of the new models features a case set with 47 baguette-cut diamonds and a bezel set with 42 baguette-cut diamonds and 52 brilliant-cut diamonds. Chanel has collaborated with Renaud et Papi Swiss master watchmakers for these new entrants. The tourbillon is powered by the manual-winding mechanical movement “Camellia Flying Tourbillon Calibre” and offers a 40-hour power reserve with a 21’600 vph vibration. Further, the watch’s gold cabochon carries another set of 19 brilliant-cut diamonds. As part of the new series, Chanel will present two editions of 20 pieces in a beige or white gold case that come with a white dial and a matching white alligator strap. A third version of 20 pieces comes in a beige gold case set on a black ceramic dial, which is further complemented with a black alligator strap. Tourbillon’s next variant is a 12 piece edition in a luxe white gold case, a black ceramic dial and a white gold bracelet set that is emblazoned with a sparkling cluster of 536 diamonds. The last one of the series is the Première Flying Tourbillon Openwork, done in beige gold in a black satin strap, which will also be presented in a limited edition of 12 pieces.
Roche Bobois has just opened the doors of its flagship store at The Gallery on MG Road in New Delhi. Spread across 8000 sq ft, the store, defined as a ‘virtual tour to Paris’ offers the same French aesthetics seen across the brand’s 250 stores worldwide. And like all the others, this too is designed by Jacqueline Hopfer, daughter of Hans Hopfer who invented the iconic Mah Jong sofa for Roche Bobois in 1971. Interestingly the brand intends to reinvent this Mah Jong sofa in collaboration with Indian designers. The Delhi store showcases Roche Bobois’s two exquisite collections Contemporary and Classic, respectively called Les Contemporains and Nouveaux Classiques, and boasts of bestsellers like the Blogger sofa, the Astrolab, Urban, and Bijou tables, and the Kasuka, Lady B, and Bergamote chairs. The brand also plans to launch the new Maison Christian Lacroix collection exclusively in Delhi. The collection has been created in association with Sacha Walckhoff, Creative Director of French luxury fashion house Maison Christian Lacroix.
Carved out of pure silver and emblazoned with 82,000 glittering Swarovski quartzes, this dazzling toy horse named ‘Crystal’ is the brainchild of Kent-based luxe firm The Fernandes Exquisite Creations in association with Stevenson Brothers and costs$112,360—a price at which you could buy many a real horse—or even an Aston Martin Vantage! Balanced on black oak runners, with fittings made of pure silver the luxe toy was on the maker’s wish list since the firm’s inception and the dream has been translated to reality after a six-month long toil. Available for purchase at the Stevenson Brothers Showroom in Bethersden, Ken, this jewelled horse will also set out on a weekend journey to Monaco before being made available for retail at the Private Buyers Department in Harrods. What’s more, a similarly bejewelled crystal zebra and unicorn are next in line. Horse people, this is your dream toy!
Marking their hundredth year, the BMW Group has revealed a swashbuckling new concept bike straight from the future. The BMW Motorrad Vision Next 100 is an extremely safety-focused vehicle, for which the company insists you need no helmet or protective clothing! It does include a special adjustable high tech thermal riding suit, though. What’s more, the mega-bike can stay upright even when parked, using a self-balancing system. The mechanism still allows riding angles and tilts fore and aft with braking or acceleration. Despite the automated system, BMW assures that the rider is still in control. The Flexframe construction allows the one-piece frame to give a full-body steering feel by the handlebars bending the entire frame rather than just the front tire. The integrated windshield also acts as a heads-up display and the tail lights are illuminated strips under the seat shell. Feast your eyes on this drool-worth superhero bike.
Swiss luxe watch brand H Moser & Cie will be making its India debut next week through a partnership with Mumbai based retailer Regalia Luxury. The brand is known for its unique fume dial and perpetual calendar watches priced upwards of Rs 11.5 lakh, which allow wearers to set the time backwards. Moser & Cie manufactures around 1,000 time pieces a year and is available in markets like Singapore, Dubai and Hong Kong. Regalia Luxury also retails watch brand Bovet in India besides Italian menswear label Isaia, British shoemaker John Lobb and Italian suit brand Kiton.
PERCHING PRETTY | Jacqualine Tara Herron, director of The Imperial Spa and Salon, poses amidst the serene beauty of the exquisitely designed interiors of the spa
More than just a luxury hotel, The Imperial is a destination in itself, acknowledged for its exemplary art deco architecture, historic collection of artworks, impeccable service and unconventional appearance. Taking the tradition further is The Imperial Spa and Salon, a world of ultimate relaxation and sublime opulence. One of the largest city spas in India for The Imperial launched in December 2010, it has been honoured with multiple awards since its inception, including the Global Award Winner 2015 Best Luxury Wellness Retreat India and Best Spa Interiors by GeoSpa asiaSpa India Awards 2015 & 2014. Nestling amidst the landscaped gardens of one of the Asia’s finest luxury hotels, The Imperial Spa evokes a feeling of spiritual harmony, at the very outset. Intricate architecture highlighting the influences of Mughal traditions and Indian motifs embedded beautifully in different spaces adorn the expansive spa, creating an aesthetic space meant for the rejuvenation of mind, body and soul. The philosophy of The Imperial Spa is founded in a living awareness of the value of wellness through a healing touch, a nurturing environment, cleansing, yoga, signature holistic massages, peace and deep relaxation as essential elements in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
WINING WELCOME | A reception as beautiful as this augurs well for the indulgences to follow at The Imperial Spa
The reception, all white marble with intricate motifs, Moroccan style braziers and a cosy sitting area, is surrounded by nine Sufi themed treatment rooms for international and signature therapies, including the luxurious private couples’ therapy abode- Moghul suite – and Kerala Suite for traditional Ayurvedic therapies. The Imperial spa is a perfect abode to indulge in spa therapies designed with signature oils from its own SUFI signature blends and administered by highly-trained, hand-picked therapists. Hydro Therapy areas and changing rooms with spacious vanity areas, ensure privacy and leisurely indulgence. The traditional Ayurvedic rituals on offer are also accompanied by an in-house Ayurvedic doctor’s consultation and spa cuisine which adds to the presence of premium Spanish skin care brand, Natura Bisse, and SUFI skin care range, all offered in a pristine environment housed in breath-taking architecture. As Ms. Jacqualine Tara Herron, Director of The Imperial Spa, Salon & Health and Racquet Club, aptly sums it up, “Our team of caring spa professionals are here to make your journey through the Imperial Spa a meaningful and heartfelt experience that will plant seeds of positivity and wellness enriching your life onwards”.
MUGHAL MYSTICA | The Moghul Suite is a royal refuge for couples who want to soak in some exclusive treatments
As we take a deep dive into the regalia that is the spa, we talked to the spa director, Jacqualine Tara Herron, a seasoned wellness professional with over two decades of experience, who spearheaded the 16000 sq ft Imperial Spa project from concept to launch in 2010, staying on till 2014. After a two and half year stint developing a wellness retreat In China, J Tara Herron has re-joined The Imperial as Director of The Imperial Spa, Salon, Health & Racquet Club and is all set to take on new challenges of the luxury wellness in the hospitality industry. While this is where she currently is at, Tara’s career in wellness and spa began years ago in the UK & USA as a yoga/meditation teacher, aromatherapist and stress consultant. In 1990 she founded ‘Yogic Solutions’ seeing clients and operating an accredited body/mind training school. She has since collaborated on the conceptual and creative formation of global spa developments which brought her to India as she worked on prestige projects like One and Only, Taj Exotica, The Royal Crescent, Tor Spa Retreat, Octave Living and The Imperial New Delhi. Here are excerpts from our chat with her, where she talks about her love for Sufism, India, latest beauty innovations and some must-dos for optimal living.
The Luxe Café: From your sojourns in the West, travelling around, teaching Yoga, and finding Yogic Solutions, how did India come to figure in your scheme of things? I was always interested in spirituality and further got into learning yoga, astrology, ayurveda and holistic healing while travelling far and wide, leaning towards Eastern influences and Sufi mysticism, living in a monastery in Maui, and taking up courses in healing arts along the way. After about ten years in the US, I came back to England and registered for a degree in aromatics and healing at Warwick. While not much for pre-planning, my interests carried me along and I also set up the Evolved Healing Arts school in Bath where I taught holistic living courses, and went on to developing the Yogic Solutions brand of products. A meeting with Rosamond Freeman-Attwood, who developed the Aman Spa, brought me to work with Taj Exotica and that was the start of my travels to India. While I was engaged in spa consultancies and developing product lines, trainings et al, I was referred for the role of Spa Director at The Imperial and as things came together, I found myself working on developing this beautiful spa project where I stayed on for the next four years following the launch and where I am at now, having come a full circle, as it were.
AYURVEDIC ABODE | With traditional therapies being offered by in-house trained therapists, the Kerala suite provides the perfect ambience for receiving the treatments
What are the elements essential to setting up a spa and what are the challenges that one has to face in the process? If you are building something from scratch, it is not only about procuring the material but paying attention to how that material fits into the larger theme and design to create a memorable visual experience. While I had always wanted to create a Sufi-inspired spa, and my own design experience, having designed my own outfits and a product line, went some way, I was convinced all the more about the Imperial Spa project when I saw the tiles embossed with Mughal motifs. Operational instinct came together with design instinct as the space came to life, bracing in its aesthetic scape and authentic in its ode to the theme, where each piece and part was specifically sourced – from the antique tapestries with Mughal art, the Moroccan style lamps, the Sufi poetry engraved on the tiles, to the in-house product range named Sufi. Spa is a stylish business and spas need to impress with visual grace, as what comes foremost is to create the ambience even as the treatments and massages come after. Another critical element is preparing for a team of trained therapists who are aligned with your vision so that there is a set standard that one can replicate and keep refining. The creative license that I had when I started work on The Imperial Spa was crucial to my scheme of things as I worked to optimise on a collective vision, which you sense as you step into the spa, which for me is the labour of my love.
SERENE SPLENDOUR | This relaxation area at the spa is kitted out with details which make it aesthetically pleasing and also perfect to lounge in
Where do you see the beauty and wellness industry heading towards? What are the latest innovations in treatments and therapies that one should look out for? To begin, I believe in wellness coming together with aesthetics to combine for a holistic, targeted treatment. I am very enthused about non-invasive procedures which are a meeting ground of hi-tech innovations and wellness rituals. One in particular is the high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) which can be used for face sculpting and requires a medispa atmosphere. As we look forward, we will find the indigenous techniques coming together with scientific techniques, symbolising a mix of the old and new. The changes that I see happening point towards a fusion of salon beauty treatments, anti-ageing tech, which are then finding space within the wellness industry which is riding high on a general awareness of toxins on everyday environments and advanced ways of battling the aftereffects. So, one can witness the surge in medispas which incorporate treatments such as colonic irrigation, vitamin drips and other focused detox therapies which are then paving the way ahead as spas start to address physical as well psychological concerns, working on the inside out.
LOVE AND LIGHT | Experience the warmth of the Jacuzzi at the spa which is ensconced in this intricately designed chamber
What are some of the signature spa treatments at The Imperial Spa and what are some of the upcoming additions to the spa menu? Spas offer one an escape to a different world where there’s something meaningful awaiting them, in terms of reconnecting with one’s body and spirit. At The Imperial Spa, there’s a whole host of therapies and treatments on offer. But a quick guide to some our best will include the anti-ageing skincare treatments like Diamond DNA, using intensive serums and algae masks, and the Timeless Age treatment which is very hydrating for mature skin. When it comes to body treatments, there’s the signature massage ritual using our Sufi range of oils and there’s the 91 minute indulgent Imperial Death combining different techniques like Swedish, deep tissue, energy balancing and reflexology which I developed an all-in-one aligning mind, body and spirit. As spas are all about preventive therapy, massages top the list of such therapies. We also offer time tested ayurvedic rituals like the shirodhara which is done in our specially designed Kerala suite. In the new spa menu, about to be unveiled soon, I have am incorporating other ayurvedic treatments such as a tridosha facia using pure herbal ingredients, a ritual only for hands and feets, another based on the four hands abhyanga, and a lymphatic drainage ritual. This will be accompanied by the launch of our specially developed product line including Himalayan hot soaks using Himalayan salts.
WHITE PERFECT | A sight for the sore eyes, The Imperial Spa make for the perfect escape for the city dwellers who want some holistic me time
What are your tips for making the most of spa visits? Which is your favourite spa outside India? The secret of getting the best spa experience starts with getting an expert trained therapist, so ask and enquire before you book. During the therapy, knowing the pressure you like and telling that to the spa therapist is important. You will realise that doing light massage is as artful a technique as doing a deep massage. Also, it is advised that you have a shower before a massage as the oils works well and if possible, you should keep the oils on for few hours post massage as it seeps in. And remember to relax after a massage as enhances the after effects. My one favourite spa haunt is this luxury health resort called Kamalaya in Koh Samui, Thailand.
Would you want to share some tips and tricks with our woman readers looking for expert advice? I have always followed these rules and advise others to do so as well-
Dress fab as you want to feel
Cleanse and moisturise your skin at night for sure
Exfoliate at night which is better
When you wake up freshen up with a flower water and put on at least 30 Spf
Also, to maintain a fit figure, yoga is best as it maintains a feminine shape and addresses all parts of the body.
Irish brand ‘Atlantic Rain’ is all set to bring you, quite literally, the streams from heaven to quench your thirst. Bottled rainwater from the country is the brand’s latest offering and they’d be the frontrunners in this segment. In Ireland, Atlantic fronts bring in up to 60 inches of rain each year to the island’s west. The rain clouds do not cross over any land mass before hitting Ireland, therby ensuring that the rainwater is relatively clean. Atlantic Rain bottled drinking water will have its source in this abundant and clean rainwater, bringing a premium Irish product with an edge over other bottled water brands. The brand intends to utilise its unique water collection system, wherein rain water does not come in contact with the ground, and no ground pollutants are absorbed into it. The brand plans to market its premium product in sparkling as well as still versions in 250 ML and 750 ML glass bottles. So, ready for a sip of fresh rainwater—direct from the Irish skies?
London’s Natural History Museum will soon have a slew of a new features, carried out by architects at Niall McLaughlin Architects and landscapers Kim Wilkie. With the planning permission granted this year, the museum is currently in the fundraising stage and aims to complete the project by 2020. The introductions will enhance the museum’s access, grounds and wildlife garden starting with the entrance, the Square, stretching onto the Eastern Grounds. The Eastern Grounds will feature a new bronze cast of a diplodocus as well as a geological timeline of the Earth’s evolution complete with intricate landscaping. The bronze cast is not the same as the ‘Dippy the Diplodocus’ signature that currently sits in the Museum’s central hall — it will leave the museum in 2017 to go on a UK tour in 2018. The Western Grounds will see the Wildlife Garden double in size and three quarters of its current iteration set amidst the urban greenery. While London’s Museum of Natural History opened its doors to the public in April 1881, its origins run back a century prior to that.
Hennessey Performance Engineering, located in Texas, does the work of modifying and tuning fine automobiles. And this time they’ve gone ahead and modified Ford’s new 2017 Raptor off-road pickup, adding an extra axle to make the VelociRaptor: a 6×6 mean vehicle with upgraded Fox suspension. Add on 6 20″ off road tires, new bumpers and a rollbar with a modified aluminum bed and it is ready for the performance upgrade. Priced at $295,000 upwards, The Hennessey VelociRaptor 6×6 Truck pushes the 3.5 liter EcoBoost V6 from a stock 450 horsepower to a massive 600 horses by upgrading to twin turbochargers, stainless steel exhaust modifications, and front mounted air to air intercooler. With the intention of pushing Mercedes’ G63 AMG 6X6 from the top spot in aggressive off road 6×6’s, Hennessey’s is flexing all its automotive muscles!
